Croft School Children Create New Orchard...

Painswick Community Orchard Group is celebrating after planting its first orchard in Painswick, thanks to funding from the Friends of the Croft School. 

On a wet and windy Wednesday (22nd February) 150 children at the School, pulled on their wellies and planted seven apple trees in their school grounds, one for each year group in the school and created their first school orchard. 

"The orchard is a wonderful addition to the school grounds," said Croft School headmistress, Ceris Towler. 

"The children are delighted that they have their own tree and have been bringing their parents to see them. As new classes join the school, we will add to the orchard and the trees will grow as they do through the school."

After the trees were planted John Rhodes, dressed up as a 'green man' and wassailed the trees to encourage good growth for the year ahead. 

"The orchard group will visit the school each autumn and bring our traditional oak press to make apple juice with the children" Said Emma Bradshaw of Painswick Orchard Group. "In the future the children will be able to drink their own school juice with their lunch!"

According to research published in 2011 by Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust, traditional orchard habitat has declined by 67% in the county, how fantastic that a school is helping to play its part in reversing this decline.  

The trees that were planted were all local varieties...

Ampney Red

A dessert apple from Ampney Crucis, it was recorded as a common variety in 1939 but now it is thought only one old tree survives in the village

Lodgemore Nonpareil

Raised by Mr Cook of Lodgemore, Stroud and introduced by Mr Clissold, a nurseryman who subsequently rented the garden where it had been started.  He propagated and sold it under the name of ‘Clissold’s Seedling’ A pleasant dessert apple, first grown in 1808

Puckrup Pippin

A dessert variety with a juicy, super acid drop flavour from Puckrup, near Tewkesbury

Rheads Reinette

A really nice dessert apple. Raised from seed by William Rhead (1852-1955) at either Elton Farm, Elton or Peglars Farm, Flaxley

Siddington Russet 

First discovered in 1923, grown and sold by John Jefferies & Sons nurseries in Siddington near Cirencester

The Croft School Orchard...

On Wednesday, 22nd February the children of The Croft School, Painswick will be planting seven apple trees, for each of the seven year groups at the school and creating a brand new orchard in Painswick.

Over the years the children will watch their orchard grow, pick the apples and press them to make apple juice. The creation of a new orchard will also encourage wildlife such as the lesser spotted woodpecker, noble chafer beetle and mistletoe to visit the school grounds, and help reverse the decline of traditional orchards in Gloucestershire.

"Orchards have declined by 67% in Gloucestershire over the past 30 years!"

State of the Natural Environment Report 2011 

The trees the children will be planting are local varieties;

Ampney Red

A dessert apple from Ampney Crucis, it was recorded as a common variety in 1939 but now it is thought only one old tree survives in the village

Lodgemore Nonpareil

Raised by Mr Cook of Lodgemore, Stroud and introduced by Mr Clissold, a nurseryman who subsequently rented the garden where it had been started.  He propagated and sold it under the name of ‘Clissold’s Seedling’ A pleasant dessert apple, first grown in 1808

Puckrup Pippin

A dessert variety with a juicy, super acid drop flavour from Puckrup, near Tewkesbury

Rheads Reinette

A really nice dessert apple. Raised from seed by William Rhead (1852-1955) at either Elton Farm, Elton or Peglars Farm, Flaxley

Siddington Russet 

First discovered in 1923, grown and sold by John Jefferies & Sons nurseries in Siddington near Cirencester

Once the children plant the trees they will be wassail them to encourage their strong and quick growth. The orchard creation has been funded by the Friends of the Croft School with the help from Painswick Orchard Group.